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Show PUBLIC CONFIDENCE RESTORED BY BASIS American Bankers Association Describes Its Activities to Create Cre-ate Better Understanding Regarding Banks NEW YORK. Eight different lines of activity through which the American Amer-ican Bankers Association is constantly constant-ly aiming to promote better public understanding un-derstanding and opinion in regard to banking and the attitude of bankers toward legislation are described in detail de-tail in a statement made public here by R. S. Hecht, president of the association. asso-ciation. The aim, he says, is "to strengthen the real basis for good opinion in re-sard re-sard to the banks," through fostering informative bank advertising in the newspapers and in other ways. The statement was issued in reply to suggestions sug-gestions received urging a nationwide nation-wide public educational program in regard to "the business of banking and Its place in the life of our country." Mr. Hecht declares that "we have tried very hard to convince the public that the banking fraternity has truly profited by the lessons of the past. Is determined to approach all questions of banking policy from the broad viewpoint view-point of public welfare and is prepared to carry its full share of the burden in connection with all efforts to restore sound prosperity in this country." The Means Employed In describing the various measures of the association "to exert a beneficial benefi-cial influence on public opinion regarding re-garding the functions, methods and operations of banks," Mr. Hecht enumerated enu-merated the following activities: 1. The Public Education Commission, which prepares plain language talks about banking for use of bankers and others before be-fore schools, civic clubs and over the radio. 2. The Constructive Customer Relations program. Installed In many banks to help qualify bank employees to promote a better bet-ter informed and more sympathetic attitude atti-tude among their customers regarding banking. 3. The Publicity Department, supplying city and country daily and weekly newspapers news-papers with articles regarding banking and allied subjects and furnishing the general press with news and information regarding the activities of the association. 4. The Advertising Department, supplying supply-ing members of the association with a series of informative newspaper advertisements adver-tisements setting forth In brief, popular language the methods and policies under which banks operate, their effective practices prac-tices for protecting depositors' funds, the services they render and the various ways in which they cooperate with business In their own communities in fostering sound recovery and progress. 6. The Executive Officers and the Committee Com-mittee on Banking Studies, who are active, ac-tive, particularly at Washington, In consulting con-sulting with Administration and Congressional Congres-sional leaders In formulating proposals for banking reform based on broad lines of public weirare. 6. The Agricultural Commission, promoting pro-moting among bankers in the farm districts dis-tricts the practice of aiding their farm customers in installing on their farms better bet-ter financial and operating methods. 7. The American Institute of Banking having primarily to do with the technical "duration of the younger banker, but now directing these efforts toward also playing a part In Improving public relations for banking as a whole, particularly through stressing the public responsibilities and the ethical aspects of practical banking. R. The publication of "Banking." the official organ of the association, circulating circu-lating among bankers, bank directors, business executives, economists, law firms, government departments, libraries, colleges, public schools and other publications, publica-tions, presenting articles regarding banking bank-ing and banking viewpoints. The Objective Sought In commenting on the foregoing program, pro-gram, Mr. Hecht says that it is not "the primary objective to attract attention particularly to the American Bankers Association as such, but rather to focus fo-cus attention on and give impetus to those Ideas which It believes are beneficial bene-ficial In promoting understanding and solidarity among banking, business and the public." He adds: "Our program for the development of satisfactory public relations for banking does not consist merely of newspaper publicity. It is calculated to produce a continuous and cumulative cumula-tive effect by varied efforts which are aimed to work day in and day out to strengthen the real basis for good opinion opin-ion in regard to the banks. "To have favorable things said about the banking business iu the newspapers and over the radio is, the association recognizes, - very helpful toward creating a sound public opin ion regarding banking. But the asso ciation believes that the most impor tant thing ultimately is to fostei throughout the- banking profession the doing sincerely of those thingv that reflect favorably the sound, help ful practices of the business of bank ing, and that then the true news of Us constructive activities will consUtutc-the consUtutc-the best answers to misrepresentations aimed at bank!3 and bankers." |